THE PROSODIC BEAUTY OF THE NAVARATRI KRITIS

Being a poet himself, Swati Tirunal has infused a lot of life and poetry into the Navaratri kritis. The songs are carved out very meticulously and yet have a beautiful flow to them. It would be no exaggeration to say that Swati Tirunal has excelled himself. The language is simple, charming both in sound and meaning. The flow of words is slow in some places and swift elsewhere, but always graceful. He has employed the various elements that add to the beauty of a poem (in this case, a composition) such as prasa (rhyme), dvitiyakshara prasa (alliteration in the second letter of each line), adyapada prasa (alliteration in the first segment) and so forth. This has been woven very intelligently in all the segments and sub-segments of the compositions. The composer has expressed his ideas very elegantly, in lucid language employing unique alankara (figure of speech) such as upama (simile), roopaka (metaphor), utpreksha (fancy) etc. 

THE ESSENCE OF THE KRITIS: 

The first six songs in the series are addressed to Saraswati, and the last three to Parvati. All of them, as mentioned in the previous article, are of the 'pahi mam' style, where the composer bows to the Goddess, seeking Her blessings, with an earnest appeal to protect him and save him from sins and torments. These songs contain praise (stuti) for the deity, description of Her beauty, besides prayers for unwavering Bhakti  (devotion) towards her. 

Saraswati is appropriately described as spotless white in complexion, riding on a white swan, wearing white silk, bearing the Vina (lute-variety), the book, the rosary and the symbol of protection in her four hands, and having a crescent moon on her head. This reminds us of the famous sloka, 

yA kundEndu tushAra hAra dhavaLA
yA subhravastrAv.rtA
yA vINa vara daNDa maNDitakarA
yA sveta padmAsanA
yA brahmAccuhta saN^kara prabh.rtibhir-
dEvaiH sadA pUjitA
sA maM pAtu sarasvatI bhagavatI
nisshesha jADyApahA         

Meaning, She is the embodiment of all beauty and the abode of all learning, the consort of Brahma, and is worshipped by Gods like Indra, and sages like Suka, Sanaka and Narada. She is kindness incarnate and generous in her gifts to her devotees. 

Goddess Parvati is described in the last three songs as very charming in form, having a crescent moon on her head, bearing the trident in her hand, and riding a lion. She is the consort of Siva, and the slayer of the demon Chanda, Munda and Mahisha. She grants all desires to her true devotees. 

Thus, the Navaratri kritis are a beautiful legacy to Carnatic music from Swati Tirunal.

Related links: The Navaratri kritis of Swati Tirunal
                     Navavarana & Navaratri kritis
                     Srichakra